Knowledge and Attitude of Mothers regarding Rabies and its Preventive Measure

Document Type : Scientific peer reviewed journal

Authors

1 Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Benha University, Egypt

2 Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Rabies is acute viral disease of the nervous system caused by Rhabdo viridae
Lyssa virus present in saliva of rabid animals.
The aim of this study: Was to assess knowledge and
attitude of mothers regarding rabies and its preventive measures.
Research design: A descriptive cross
sectional study was used to conduct this study.
Setting: This study was conducted at Maternal and
Child Health Center (B) at Benha City.
Sample: Simple random sample was used included 360
mothers.
Tools of data collection: A structured interviewing questionnaire was used to assess
demographic data of the studied mothers, mothers’ knowledge about rabies, and mothers’ attitude
toward rabies.
Results: 41.4% of the studied mothers aged 40 years and more, 41.7% of mothers had
secondary educational level. 93.1% of the studied mothers had poor knowledge score. 57.5% of the
studied mothers had indifferent total attitude score. There were a highly statistically significant
relations between demographic characteristics of the studied mothers and their age, educational level,
occupation and family income and family size (p < 0.001). There were not significant relationship < br />between the studied mothers' attitude and their socio demographic characteristics (age, educational
level, occupation, residence, family income and family size) (p>0.05).
Conclusion: There was a highly
statistically significant correlation between total knowledge and attitudes of the studied mothers related
to rabies (P<0.001).
Recommendations: Health educational program should be developed and
implemented for mothers about rabies to educate them with the most current information and attitude
about the disease and its preventive measures. 

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Main Subjects